Parliamentary discussion on one of the controversial media control bills started on November 7 in the House of Councilors.

Using his question time Japanese Communist Party member Inoue Satoshi demanded that the Human Rights Protection Bill be withdrawn. "The bill does not fulfill the international standard of human rights protection," he said.

Inoue pointed out that the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern about the degree of independence of a human rights committee to be established as an affiliate of the Justice Ministry.

Inoue added that the bill restricts privacy violations by news organizations but excludes violations of privacy by governmental authority.

To show human rights are violated in large corporations, Inoue cited Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. (IHHI), Ltd. which is trying to get rid of JCP members from the company's workplaces. He stressed the need for an independent committee that will work to end discrimination against workers based on ideology.

In answer to Inoue, Minister of Justice Moriyama Mayumi said, "Issues of discrimination should be dealt with by the Minister of Health, Labor, and Welfare."

Stating that the bill is ineffective in protecting human rights from their violations by public authority or large corporations, Inoue demanded that the bill be scrapped. (end)